A PRESS STATEMENT

 

The Jamiatul Ulama South Africa has noted a retraction of utterances of one Muhammad Khalid Sayed who recently made inflammatory remarks, reviling the sanctity and honour of the Noble Companions RA of Rasulullah SAW. His statements which have been circulated in a recording via social media are uncalled for, offensive and unacceptable, under any circumstance.

 

Under the façade of independent and critical thought, there are those who advance a kind of pseudo-scholarship by attacking the symbols of our faith. In doing so, such individuals do not only create or exacerbate communal tensions but also infringe on the beliefs and dignity of those who as a matter of faith, revere the Noble Companions RA of the Rasulullah SAW.

 

The Almighty proclaims His Acceptance of the Companions RA in the Noble Qur’an: “And the foremost pioneers of the Muhajirin and the Ansar and also those who followed them exactly in virtue; Allah is well-pleased with them and they are well-pleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success.” (At-Tawba, 100)

 

Rasulullah SAW sounded a warning when he said: “Fear Allah! Fear Allah, regarding my Sahabah! Fear Allah! Fear Allah, regarding my Sahabah! Do not make them a target of criticism after me.” (Tirmidhi)

 

Flowing from such Divinely-declared acceptance and a Prophetic word of caution, Islamic scholars throughout the ages have affirmed the nature of our link to the Noble Companions by highlighting several dimensions. Imam Abu Hanifah RA would say: “We only mention the Sahabah with goodness.” It was later recorded of Hafiz Abu Bakr al Khatib al Baghdadi RA who would say: “The Sahabah are not in need of anyone of the creation to declare their righteousness, when Allah who is aware of their inner-selves has already done so.”

 

The reverence and defence of the Noble Companions RA is therefore a matter of obligation through our own belief, identity, sense of being and convictions as Muslims. Neither revisionism nor ambitions under the guise of academia shall be allowed to pass when a discourse is intended to abuse, despise and malign the Noble Companions RA, as part of the symbols of faith. Any insistence on such a discourse is a deliberate attempt to provoke, cause pain and inflict harm to the faith of a Community of Believers.

 

Meanwhile and in conclusion, we urge all to desist from becoming unwitting agents of the propagation of an abominable and undeserving speech by further circulating the recording of Sayed’s now-retracted statements. We all have the responsibility to learn about the virtues of the Noble Companions. Nothing shall honour their legacy more than the emulation of their examples of loyalty to Rasulullah SAW, self-sacrifice and integrity.

 

We invite you to visit www.mahajjah.com, a website under a JUSA-driven project that is dedicated to the provision of resources on the centrality of the Noble Companions RA, in the faith of a Muslim.

 

Issued by:

The Executive Committee
Jamiatul Ulama South Africa

 

13 Muharram 1444/12 August 2022